Improvement in life-preservers



',Nrrnn raras IMPROVEMENT IN LIFE-PRESERVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,617, dated May 5, 1874; application filed I March 19, 1874.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUsr Roos, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvem cnt in Life- Preserving Trunks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will' enable those skilled in the art to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which drawing- Figure 1 represents a transverse vertical section of Ithis invention. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the saine on a smaller scale than the previous figure, showing the application of my lifepreserving apparatus.

Similar letters indicate correspon din g parts.

This invention relates to a trunk made of sheet metal, or other rigid and water-tight material, with a lid which is closed down upon a packing-ring by an eccentric roller, from which extends a lever with an eye to engage with the lock-bolt of thev lid. In the side of the trunk is secured a stud that forms the bearing for a swivel-plate, provided with slots for the reception of a belt that serves to strapY the trunk to the body of a person, so that by the buoyancy of the trunk, said person will be kept above water, either in a horizontal or in a vertical position, and the trunk thus serves as a life-preserver, and when desired it may also serve the purpose of an ordinary traveling-trunk. I

In the drawing, the letter A designates a trunk, which is made of sheet met-al, or other rigid and water-tight material, in any convenient shape or size. Said trunk is provided with a lid, B, which swings on hinges a, and which is provided on its inner surface with a projecting rib, b, so that when the lid is closed, this rib bears down upon a packing-ring, c, contained in a groove formed for its reception on the surface of the trunk. For the purpose of depressing the lid upon the packing-ring and to produce a tight joint, I have'applied to the trunk an'eccentric roller or cam, d, which turns in lugs projecting from the surface of the trunk, and from which extends a lever, e, by means of which the same can be operated. Vhen the eccentric roller is turned back, the lid can be opened, and when the lid is closed and the eccentric roller is turned into the position shown in Fig. 1, the rib b is firmly depressed upon the packing-rin g c. On the lever e is formed an eye, f, which engages with a slot in the lid, so that the lock-bolt g, applied to the inner surface of said lid, can be made to pass through it, and thereby said lid is firmly and securely retained in its closed position. In the side of the trunk is rmly se; cured a stud, h, which forms the bearing for a swivel-plate, t', that is provided with slots for the reception of a belt, C. By this arrangement the belt is free to turn in any direction, and if the trunk is strapped to the body of a person floating in the water, said person is' free to assume a horizontal or upright position.

In practice, I intend to use two small handtrunks, constructed as above described, for each person, and if danger arises, these two trunks are strapped to the body of the person, as shown in Fig. 2, so that, if the person is compelled to jump into the water, he or she will be buoyed up by the trunks, and at the same time freedom is left to such person to swim in a horizontal position, or to remain quietly in an upright position, as may be most advisable under given circumstances.

If desired, however, my trunk can be made large enough to support two persons, one on each side but it is obvious that two small hand-trunks can be more readily strapped to the body of a person, and easier managed than a large trunk.

.t The hand-trunks are provided with bails l), for the purpose of carrying the saine with convenience.

INit-h a trunk constructed as above described, a safe and reliable life-preserver is secured, and the trunk can be used for the purposes of an ordinary traveling-trunk when so desired.

IV hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A trunk the lid of which is packed and clamped on the same for making it air and water tight, said trunk being provided with means for attaching it to a belt, whereby it is adapted to be used as a life-preserver, and, when desired, may also serve the purposes ot an ordinary traveling-trunk, substantially as described.

AUGUST ROOS.

Vitnesses j W. I-IAUFF, E. F. KAs'rnNHUBnR.

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